Page:United States Statutes at Large Volume 103 Part 3.djvu/1015

PROCLAMATION 6015—SEPT. 5, 1989 103 STAT. 3083 NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby designate the week beginning September 1, 1989, as World War 11 Remembrance Week. I ask all Americans to join in remembering and reflecting upon this conflict, which changed forever the history of mankind. I also call upon government officials and pri- vate organizations to observe this week with appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twenty- ninth day of August, in the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and eighty-nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and fourteenth. GEORGE BUSH Proclamation 6015 of September 5, 1989 National Check-Up Week, 1989 By the President of the United States of America A Proclamation Many of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States are diseases that could be treated effectively—^if detected early. That is why periodic medical examinations are important for all Americans. Heart disease, which claims the lives of more than 500,000 Americans each year and represents the leading cause of death in our country, can be reduced in severity or even prevented through such measiu-es as the control of high blood pressure and the maintenance of a healthy diet. In fact, improved treatment for high blood pressure has reduced die fre- quency of strokes in the United States to one-half the rate recorded during the early 1970's. The first step in identifying and treating such a health risk as high blood pressure is often a routine medical check-up. Similarly, medical science has shown that the early detection of some forms of cancer—long before symptoms develop—can save lives. For example, deaths in this country from cancer of the cervix have fallen dramatically since 1950, due, in part, to routine screening tests per- formed by doctors. The prognosis for victims of other forms of cancer, such as breast cancer, can also be improved when the disease is de- tected early through periodic medical check-ups. In addition to the early detection of illness, regular medical check-ups play an important role in disease prevention. For example, highly effec- tive vaccines administered to yoimg children have led to the virtual elimination of certain childhood diseases, such as polio, that were common afflictions only one generation ago. In recent years, it has become increasingly clear that many diseases and other health problems can be prevented simply through changes in personal behavior. Refraining from smoking, improving one's diet, safe sexual practices, and avoidance of drug and alcohol abuse are some of the many measures that can help reduce one's risk of illness and injiiry. The medical check-up provides an important opportujiity for the doctor and patient to discuss these behaviors. It is an ideal setting for